[Summary] "Leak of Park Won-soon Accusation, My Fault" Nam In-soon Apologizes... Opposition Demands "Take Responsibility and Resign"

Nam In-soon "Faithfully Implementing NHRC Recommendations"
"Now It's Time to Take Responsibility," "Not the Time to Brush It Off," Opposition Urges Resignation
Ruling Party "Will Ensure Victims Recover Daily Life Without Secondary Harm"

Nam In-soon, Democratic Party of Korea member. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] On the 26th, Nam In-soon, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, expressed an apology, stating, "I humbly accept the results of the National Human Rights Commission's ex officio investigation into the sexual harassment allegations against the late Park Won-soon, former Mayor of Seoul." Meanwhile, the opposition parties have urged her to "take responsibility for the situation and resign from her position as a lawmaker."

In a post on Facebook that day, Representative Nam said, "I deeply apologize to the victim," and emphasized, "I will do my best to ensure that the Human Rights Commission's recommendations are faithfully implemented."

Earlier, on the 25th, the Human Rights Commission announced the results of its ex officio investigation, concluding that the sexual conduct by former Mayor Park toward the victim, his former secretary, constituted sexual harassment.

Regarding allegations that she informed Park's side about the lawsuit at the time of the incident, Representative Nam stated, "My inquiry through a phone call with the Seoul City gender advisor about whether there was any unfortunate incident caused considerable confusion," adding, "This is an inexcusable fault on my part. I apologize for causing pain to the victim, organizations dedicated to women's rights, and all women, including the 2030 generation who have fought against sexual harassment and gender discrimination."

On referring to the victim as a "complainant," she said, "It caused misunderstandings and distrust in the political sphere, as if denying the victim's suffering," and added, "My thoughtlessness caused the victim greater harm. I deeply apologize to the victim once again."

She further emphasized, "I thought I had lived my life dedicated to improving women's rights, but through this incident, I have reflected on how inadequate I was," and vowed, "I will engage in intense self-reflection."

Former People Power Party lawmaker Oh Shin-hwan, who is running in the Seoul mayoral by-election, is announcing a policy pledge for a fact-finding investigation related to the sexual harassment allegations against former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon at the National Assembly Communication Office on the 25th. / Photo by Yonhap News

In response to Representative Nam's apology, the opposition parties have called for her to "take responsibility and resign."

On the same day, Kim Eun-hye, spokesperson for the People Power Party, issued a statement saying, "The National Human Rights Commission recognized through its ex officio investigation that sexual harassment, including sexual assault and sexual violence by power under the Human Rights Commission Act, occurred in the case of former Mayor Park Won-soon," and emphasized, "Now is the time for accountability."

She added, "It is fortunate that the truth has finally come to light, albeit belatedly," and demanded, "We call for the resignation of Representative Nam In-soon, who is suspected of leaking the lawsuit information to Park Won-soon's side."

Oh Shin-hwan, former People Power Party lawmaker and a candidate for the upcoming April 7 Seoul mayoral by-election, also urged Representative Nam on the same day, saying, "I hope you take responsibility like Kim Jong-cheol (former Justice Party leader)." Previously, Kim Jong-cheol resigned abruptly on the 25th, taking responsibility for sexually harassing a fellow party member.

In a Facebook post that day, former lawmaker Oh criticized, "The Human Rights Commission confirmed the criminal acts of former Mayor Park. This is six months after the incident occurred," and added, "Many things have happened related to this case in the meantime. Although the forms varied, the essence was the same: relentless secondary victimization against the victim."

He continued, "Representative Nam's wrongdoing is not only in labeling the victim as a 'complainant,' but also in informing the Seoul City gender advisor, who was her former aide, about the lawsuit against former Mayor Park, which escalated the sexual harassment case into a death case," and stressed, "The time to brush this off has passed. Just as Kim Jong-cheol admitted his mistakes cleanly and stepped down, I hope Representative Nam also resigns."

The portrait and urn of the late Park Won-soon, Mayor of Seoul, are heading to the hearse after cremation was completed on the afternoon of July 13 last year at Seoul Memorial Park in Seocho-gu, Seoul, to be transported to Mayor Park's hometown, Changnyeong, Gyeongnam. / Photo by Yonhap News

As calls from the opposition for Representative Nam's resignation grow louder, the Democratic Party of Korea issued an apology that day, saying, "We have caused concern to the victim, Seoul citizens, and the public."

Shin Young-dae, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, said, "The Democratic Party respects the results of the Human Rights Commission and deeply apologizes for causing concern to the victim, Seoul citizens, and the public," adding, "We will implement the Human Rights Commission's recommendations so that the victim can recover their daily life without secondary harm."

He further stated, "We will work together with a more humble attitude and greater responsibility for a gender-sensitive party culture," and emphasized, "We will fulfill the responsibilities of a public party through a thorough and painful reform effort."